Corsi di studio in
Farmacia - Chimica e tecnologia farmaceutiche

Objectives. Microbiology is a discipline in constant development, including a wide range of areas such as biology, chemistry, physics, genetics, molecular biology, etc.

The study of bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi has important implications for human health and disease and economic issues.

The purpose of this course is to offer comprehensive training in the biology pathogenic microorganisms, in the antimicrobial drugs and their use, in the host response against infectious microorganisms, in vaccines and sera and in recombinant DNA technology. Microorganisms are often the mainly subjects of experimental genetic and biological phenomena because of their small size, rapid growth rate, and relative simplicity. Contemporary biochemical research employs microbiological and immunological methods.

Prerequisites. Acknowledge of the fundamental principles of general biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and immunology.

PROGRAM 2009-2010

Program of the course. Principles and essential methods to study microorganisms, their isolation and identification.

• Prokaryotic and  eukaryotic microbes. Bacterial classification.
• Bacterial structure (cytoplasm, cytoplasmic membrane, chromosome, cell wall, capsule, flagella and pili)
• Metabolic reactions. Biosynthesis of specific bacterial structures.
• Bacterial nutrition.
• Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, autotroph and heterotroph bacteria. Isolation of bacteria, bacterial function products, nutrient transport. Culture media, physical factors. Enrichment, isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria.
• Differentiation of bacteria. Bacterial growth (cell division and phases of growth). Spores, L-forms bacteria.
• Microbial genetics. The types and significance of gene transfer (transformation, conjugation and transduction). Plasmids, transposons, recombinant DNA technology.
• Antimicrobial therapy. General properties of antimicrobial agents. Mechanisms of resistance and  practical implications. Determining microbial sensitivities to antimicrobial agents.
• Pathogenic bacteria and infectious diseases. Pathogenicity and virulence. Microbial toxins (endotoxins and esotoxins).
• Disinfection and sterilization. Disinfectants and antiseptics: chemical antimicrobial agents. Physical antimicrobial agents.
• Immunology and immunity. Immune response and antigens. Humoral immunity (properties of antibodies). Cell-mediated immunity. Cellular physiology of immune responses. Natural and artificial immunity (active and passive immunization). Vaccines and sera.
• Viruses: general chatacteristics. Classification and identification of viruses. Viral replication. Bacteriophages. Antiviral agents. Interferons.
• Fungi: morphology, classification, pathogenicity. Antifungal agents. The superficial and the deep mycoses.
• Overview of bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause human disease. A thorough list of the common bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens.

 Applied Microbiology. Microbiological control of pharmaceutical products.
Assessment of sterility, toxicity, bacterial endotoxins (pyrogens), histamine absence. Assessing whether a product is for injection. Sterility control of products antimicrobial agents. Microbiological titration of antibiotics, amino acids, vitamins, etc.

Microbiological monitoring of manufacturing processes of medicinal products.

Microbiological control of cosmetic products.

 Laboratory exercises. The microscope. The Gram stain technique. Identification of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Microbial sensitivity testing.

Bibliography

Microbiologia medica. - Murray, Rosenthal, Pfailer- EMSI ed.

Principi di Microbiologia medica - La Placa- Esculapio ed.

Microbiologia generale, sistematica e medica -Willey, Sherwood, Woolverton-Mc Graw-Hill ed.

Microbiologia farmaceutica – Carlone et al – EdiSES